How is lung cancer caused?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 01, 2024
00:00
00:00

The specific causes of lung cancer are not completely clear, but there are some high-risk factors. Research has shown that lung cancer is influenced by a combination of genetic defects and internal and external environmental carcinogens. It is undeniable that long-term heavy smoking is the most important carcinogenic factor for lung cancer, with the amount and duration of smoking being positively correlated with the incidence of lung cancer. Secondly, environmental factors, such as working with asbestos or in mining areas, are also very relevant to the incidence of lung cancer. Thirdly, irregular eating habits, rest, alcohol consumption, indoor combustion, coal smoke, fumes from kitchen cooking, and carcinogenic substances released from indoor decorations and materials are also related. Fourthly, the body's internal immune status, metabolic abnormalities, genetic factors, and chronic lung infections also have a significant impact.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
49sec home-news-image

What should I do if lung cancer causes coughing up blood?

Lung cancer refers to a condition where, due to genetic mutations in human cells, cells grow disorderly or wildly, forming a solid mass-like lesion primarily known as lung cancer. Due to the uneven growth of lung cancer, local necrosis can occur, leading to bleeding, making coughing up blood a very common clinical manifestation in lung cancer. The severity of coughing up blood is classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Generally, if a single instance of coughing up blood is less than five milliliters, it can be managed with Yunnan Baiyao. However, if the amount exceeds 100 milliliters, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly to prevent life-threatening risks from massive hemoptysis. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
1min 21sec home-news-image

How is lung cancer detected?

For lung cancer detection, it is recommended for individuals over forty, especially smokers, to undergo a low-dose spiral CT for screening. Secondly, if someone has been a long-term heavy smoker and has undergone chest X-rays and low-dose spiral CT and a lung mass is found, it is suggested that the patient undergo a contrast-enhanced CT or a PET-CT to determine the condition and location of the lung mass. After establishing the condition and location, a sputum cytology test can be conducted. Thirdly, to confirm whether it is lung cancer, one should undergo bronchoscopy to obtain a biopsy, or a transthoracic lung puncture biopsy, or examine live tissue or metastatic lesions, or perform a pleural fluid examination to detect the cancer cells and determine the specific type of lung cancer to guide treatment. However, if the nature of the lesion cannot be clearly determined through mediastinoscopy, bronchoscopy, chest wall puncture biopsy, or other methods, a thoracotomy exploration is recommended. Additionally, the examination of tumor markers cannot be ignored.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 13sec home-news-image

Dietary therapy for lung cancer

In the diet of lung cancer patients, Western medicine does not have the concept of "trigger foods" like Chinese medicine does. According to Western medicine, there are no specific dietary restrictions; the focus is on maintaining a balanced diet as usual, incorporating meat, proteins, vegetables, and fruits to ensure nutritional balance. Generally, lung cancer patients may experience coughing symptoms, so it is advisable to consume a light diet avoiding oily fried foods. Extremely spicy foods can provoke irritative coughing and worsen it, so they should be avoided, along with barbecued and pickled foods, and junk food. Other than that, the diet should be similar to a normal balanced diet. For patients undergoing chemotherapy, a high-protein diet is recommended, preferably consisting of steamed or stewed dishes. These can be combined with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Astragalus, American ginseng, and Dong quai, which are known to boost energy and enhance resistance, thus aiding in dietary therapy to strengthen the patient's immunity.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
47sec home-news-image

Early stage lung cancer symptoms

The most common early symptom of lung cancer includes coughing, coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. However, when the tumor grows in the larger bronchi, it often causes an irritating cough, leading many people to mistake it for a cold. Therefore, if an irritating cough occurs, it should be taken very seriously. The second point is that as the tumor continues to grow and affects the drainage of the bronchi, there is often an increase in purulent sputum, and the amount of sputum may also increase from before. The third commonly seen symptom is bloody sputum, which might be spots of blood in the sputum, streaks of blood, or intermittent small amounts of coughed-up blood. Large amounts of blood in the sputum are very rare.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Zhong Dong
Medical Oncology
1min 15sec home-news-image

Symptoms of advanced lung cancer

Late-stage lung cancer may cause pain. For example, bone metastasis is a common site of metastasis for lung cancer, which can lead to pain; if it metastasizes to the liver, it can cause expansive pain in the liver, and chest tightness and shortness of breath are also common symptoms of late-stage lung cancer. If the tumor is located at the hilum of the lung, compressing the lobar bronchi, main bronchus, etc., compression can lead to corresponding lung collapse, possibly causing chest tightness and shortness of breath. Additionally, a large amount of pleural effusion can also occupy the thoracic cavity, compressing the lungs, leading to difficulties in breathing due to chest tightness. Coughing might be a common symptom in lung cancer patients, especially in those whose tumors are located at the hilum of the lung. Hoarseness is caused by compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and this symptom might be alleviated after tumor treatment. Furthermore, some patients with advanced-stage lung cancer may experience swelling of the upper limbs and face, which is caused by the tumor compressing the superior vena cava.